Using old ceramic tiles and recycled materials the Ceramic Museum and Mosaic Garden will not only be an example of a sustainable project but also link the museum's identity to the local culture.

The Ceramic Museum and Mosaic Garden are located in a core position of the Jinzhou World Landscape Art Exposition of 2013, a large-scale international exhibition that shows innovative landscape architecture and the art of gardening from around the world. The exposition park will be permanently preserved, with an extension of 176 hectares, as a central park for the city.

During the exhibition the Ceramic Museum will feature the art and history of ceramics. Once the exhibition is over the building will become a small museum for porcelain.

Image courtesy Casanova + Hernandez architects

The museum is integrated in a three-dimensional crackled landscape that on one hand is inspired by the ancient mosaic technique used in Europe and, on the other hand, by the delicate Longquao porcelain developed in the region for over 1800 years.

The circular surface of the Mosaic Garden is divided into smaller irregular fragments of different colors (like tesserae in a mosaic) that create a vibrant, three-dimensional landscape.

Image courtesy Casanova + Hernandez architects

The colorful surfaces are created by using mainly two elements: different types of flowers combined in monochromatic flower beds and broken recycled ceramic tiles that cover pavements and benches along the circulation paths.

Photo courtesy Casanova + Hernandez architects

The interior of the museum is a continuous, irregular space inspired by the traditional porcelain. Floor, walls and ceiling are fragmented following a pattern of irregular polygons; the characteristic “ice cracks" lines of the Longquan porcelain (Longquanyao). The walls are clear colored with a semi-glossy finish. Small windows and skylights allow filtered natural light to enter the museum.

Image courtesy Casanova + Hernandez architects

The objects are exhibited in glazed showcases, integrated in the cracked composition, that become virtual columns articulating circulation in the space.

Culture, innovation, art and sustainability are interlinked concepts in the Ceramic Museum and Mosaic Garden. Inspired by a rich tradition from the past and, at the same time, exploring new solutions for a sustainable future.